Apollo is the code name for a cross-operating system runtime being developed by Adobe that allows developers to leverage their existing web development skills (Flash, Flex, HTML, JavaScript, Ajax) to build and deploy rich Internet applications (RIAs) to the desktop.

Apollo enables familiar application interaction models, including drag-and-drop support, rich clipboard access, and desktop and system shortcuts. Furthermore, Apollo applications run as regular applications, and do not have to run within another application or shell (as web applications do by running within the browser).

This alpha version of the Apollo runtime provides developers with the opportunity to begin building applications for Apollo. Future releases will provide more stability, more desktop integration, and enhanced support for Ajax developers.

Adobe intends to provide the final release of Apollo and additional developer resources when the prerelease cycle is complete later this year.